Vinnies is concerned with all areas of mental health and works towards gaining greater acceptance for the mentally ill who are often stigmatised by people in their community through ignorance or fear.

Some of VInnies' mental health programs are as follows:

Vincentcare,in Western Australia, provides accommodation for clients in shared houses. The program supports with dignity those with an enduring mental illness and a history of homelessness..Part-time staff assist clients develop communication skills, life skills and social skills which help them gain self confidence and eventually independence.

The Compeer Friendship Program which operates in ACT, NSW, Qld and Vic, matches volunteers in one to one friendship with people who have become socially isolated due to mental ill health.

Samaritan Servicesin the ACT provides accommodation for the mentally ill who are leaving correctional or psychiatric.institutions and supports them through this vulnerable period.

Vinnies relies on volunteers and donors to enable good works to be carried out. So, please be generous with your time or money to make a difference to some unfortunate lives

The Australian Charity and Not-for- profits Commission (ACNC) was first proposed under the Howard Government, recommended by the Poverty Commission {PC} and has been in successful operation as a charity regulator from December, 2012. However now the present government wants to shut it down to save red tape..

In a March Media Release, our National Council called on the Government to abandon its ideological opposition to ACNC. Our National CEO, Dr John Falzon, said “The ACNC has built excellent relationships with the community sector in an effort to move towards a more supportive and less burdensome regulatory system. We are astonished to see the government showing such strident opposition to the very sensible role of the ACNC.

National President, Mr Anthony Thornton, added: “We are also deeply concerned by the

government’s refusal to commit to funding certainty in the areas of homelessness, affordable housing, emergency relief and financial counselling".

In an ACOSS Media Release, Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, said theGovernment has now announced it will replace the national regulator with a US-based model that evaluates charities based on league tables. Dr Goldie said, "We are unclear why the Government would use a US style league table when the PC [ Productivity Commission ] did not propose this. A simple league rating system which fails to tell the full story could be the beginning of the end for many great Australian charities."